History

Note: Click on the building name (except Stevens) to see photo.

On January 1, 1932, Congress designated Camp Knox as a permanent garrison and changed the name to Fort Knox. The post's Commander, Brigadier General Julian R. Lindsey (1932-34), established the Fort Knox Dependent Schools and appointed three education board members. Students were educated in tarpaper shacks. By 1935, enrollment had reached 85. In that year, a two-year high school was started. The first graduating class of 1936 consisted of four male students.

Briscoe Hall, the first school building, was constructed in 1939 and occupied in 1941. Named after the wartime Garrison Commander, Colonel Norman Butler Briscoe, the school served students in all grades.  By 1942, enrollment increased to 275 students in grades K-12.  Because the number of students outgrew Briscoe School, the school district vacated the building in 1961.  Briscoe Hall became and remains the home of the Fort Knox Army Continuing Education System.

Crittenberger Building was constructed in 1951 as an elementary school for 630 students. The school was named after Townsend Woodhull Crittenberger, Corporal, U.S. Army. The son of Lieutenant General Willis Dale Crittenberger and a former Fort Knox student, Corporal Crittenberger was killed in action during the Rhine River crossing on March 25, 1945.  The school added lunchroom facilities in 1966 and a library building in 1988.  Crittenberger joined Van Voorhis School in 1993 as the only year-round schools in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  In 1996, because of decreased enrollment and a projected budget shortfall, Crittenberger students, staff, and materials moved to other schools. During the 1997-98 school year, district-level staff consolidated operations into what is now Crittenberger Central Staff Offices. In 2003, Crittenberger was selected as Headquarters of the new Kentucky District, comprised of Fort Knox and Fort Campbell schools.

Stevens Building was constructed as an elementary school in 1954 with space for 575 students.  The school was named after Marine PFC. Leonard Ray Stevens, a Fort Knox High School graduate ('51), killed in action in Korea in 1952.  Due to low enrollment, Stevens School closed in the summer of 1993.  The building was turned over to the post and is currently used by the Chaplain Corps and Youth Services.

Kingsolver Elementary School, named after former Superintendent William Kingsolver, was built in 1956 for 480 students.  Kingsolver gained a new library in 1966 and again in 1988.  A major portion of Kingsolver was destroyed by fire in 1987, and reconstruction was finished in August 1989.  A new gym was constructed in 1997.  During summer 2006, a new building with four classrooms was completed.

Scott Middle School, constructed in 1956 as a junior high school, is named after Major General Charles Lewis Scott, a former Armored Center Commander (1943-45).  In 1966, an addition to Scott School was built for a warehouse and space for Central Staff Offices.  In 1967, Scott was converted to an elementary school. Most of Scott was destroyed by fire on August 13, 1989.  The fire destroyed not only the supplies and furniture for the proposed new Eighth Grade Center, but also destroyed the district’s Media Center, Computer Center, Student Services Office, and Electronic Repair Shop.  Scott was reconstructed as a middle school and, since fall 1992, has served students in grades 7 and 8. The two former middle schools, Walker and Macdonald, became intermediate schools serving grades 4-6. A new gym at Scott was constructed in 1997. 

Pierce Elementary School, also constructed in 1958, with a 600-student capacity, is named after Brigadier General John L. Pierce, Chief of Staff, Armored Commander, 1943-44.  A school addition built in 1961 initially housed the superintendent’s office (until that office moved into the Scott School annex), next served as the district media center, and now is used by Pierce School.  Pierce received a new library in 1988.  A new gym, named after former Principal Ralph V. Gilbert, was completed in 1997. During summer 2006, a new building with four classrooms was completed. In February 2008, three generations of General Pierce's family -- his daughter, her son and grandson -- visited the school named in his honor.

Fort Knox High School, serving students in grades 9-12, was originally constructed in 1958.  Building additions were completed in 1961 and 1966.  A new library and intramural complex were constructed in 1987.  A Vocational Annex was constructed in 1989. Due to the Scott School fire, the offices of Student Services and of Technology and Instruction temporarily occupied some Vocational Annex rooms in the early 1990s. In April 2008, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction to replace and demolish most of the old high school. New high school construction was completed in July 2009. The Dedication Ceremony was conducted August 7, 2009. Read details.

Mudge Elementary School was built in 1961 for 600 students and named after Major General Verne D. Mudge, commander of the 1st Cavalry Division in World War II.  The school received a new library in 1988.  New gym construction was completed in 1997. During summer 2006, a new building with four classrooms was completed.

Walker Intermediate School was constructed in 1962 as a junior high school for 400 students.  It is named after Lieutenant General Walton H. Walker, WWII Armor Commander who, while commanding the 8th U.S. Army in Korea, was killed in a vehicle accident on December 23, 1950.  Construction in 1987-88 gave Walker a new set of classrooms and a new library.  When Scott Middle School opened in fall 1992, Walker then became an intermediate school, with grades 4-6.

Macdonald Intermediate School was built in 1967 as a junior high school for 650 students.  The school is named after Major General John C. Macdonald, a former chief of staff of the U.S. Army Armor Center (1947-52).  When Scott Middle School opened in fall 1992, Macdonald then became an intermediate school, with grades 4-6.